Intermediates to make 3-beta, 14-betadehydroxy-20(22)cardenolide



INTERMEDIATES TO MAKES-BETA, 14-BE'I'A- DEHYDROXY 20(22)CARDENOLIDE t (DIGI- TOXIGENIN) Peter D. Meister, Kalamazoo Township, Kalamazoo County, and Herbert C. Murray, Hickory Corners, Mich., assignors to The Upjohn Company, Kalamazoo, Mich., a corporation of Michigan No Drawing. Original application June 7, 1955, Serial No. 513,900. Divided and this application November 17, 1958, Serial No. 774,118

8 Claims. 01. zen-239.51)

The present invention relates to steroids and is more particularly concerned with a process of production for digitoxigenin and the new intermediates of this process:

4,14-pregnadiene-3,20-dione;

3a,21-dihydroxyand 21-acyloxy-3a-hydroxy 14-pregnen- 20-ones;

21-acyl0xy-3 aarylsulfonyloxy) -14-pregnen-20-ones;

35,21-dihydroxyand 3fl,21-diacy1oxy 14 pregnen 20- ones;

3fl,15;8,21-trihydroxyand 3;3,21-diacyloxy-1SB-hydroxy- 14a-halopregnan-20-ones;

3 8 acyloxy 15 3 hydroxy 14a-ha1o-14u-card-20(22)- enolide and 3 ,B-hydroxyand 3 3-acyloxy-14( 15 -oxido- 20( 22) -cardenolide.

This invention is a continuation-in-part of application 'Serial Number 450,526, filed August 17, 1954, now

Patent No. 2,889,255, and a division of application 513,900, filed June 7, 1955.

The process and compounds of the present invention are illustratively presented by the following formulae'and equations: v

IIIb R=Ac United States Patent Paftented Mar. 29, 1960 ice Clia CH3 7 reon Unload CH3 C=O =0 t R0-- Ts0-- Va R=H Vb R==Ae CHzOR 25 R0 AcO VIIIa R=H VIIa R=H VIIIb R,=.Ac VIII) R=Ac l CHCO CH3 .CHz-

. i H fir AcO- R0 XIa R=H i x10 R=Ae wherein AcO represents an acyloxy group, Ac' being' the acyl radical of an organic-carboxylic acid containing from one to eightcarbon atoms inclusiveand TsO is an arylsulfonyloxy group. In the preferred embodiment of the process the acyl radical Ac is ofa hydrocarbon carboxylic acid containing from one to eight carbonatoms and the arylsulfonyloxy group TsO is a para-toluenesulfonyloxy group.

sis of a 15a-acyloxyproges terone '(I) or alternativelyfde- The process of the present invention comprises PYtoly- V pregnadiene-Za,20-dione (H); subjecting 4,14 -1Jregnadicne: 3,20-dione (II) to fermentation by Ophiobolus herpotrichus to obtain 2l-hydroxy-4,14-pregnadiene-3,20-dione (III) which by hydrogenation with hydrogen and a palladium catalyst in a basic medium yields 21-hydroxy--14- pregnene-3,20-dione (IVa); esterification of (IVa) by conventional means to obtain 2l-acyloxy-l4-pregnene- 3,20 dione (IVb); reducing the thus-obtained acyloxy- 14-pregnene-3,20-dione (IVb) with sodium bo rohydride to give 21-acyloxy-3a-hydroxy-14-pregnen-20-one (Vb) which by esterification with an arylsulfonyl chloride yields 21-acyloxy-3 a-arylsulfonyloxy-14-pregnen 20-one (VIb); converting the 3a-ester (Vlb) to a 3,8-ester by reacting compound (Vlb) with a hydrocarbon carboxylic acid containing from one to eight carbon atoms, inclusive, in the presence of an alkali salt of the same hydrocarbon carboxylic acid to give 3;3,21'diacyloxy-14-pregnen-20- one (VIIb); treating 3,9,2l-diacyloxy-14-pregnen-20-one with a hypobromous acid (HBrO) preferably N-bromoacylamide in the presence of an acid to yield 35,21-diacyloxy:fl hydroxy-l4a-bromopregnan-20-one (VIHb) which by submitting to a Reformatsky reaction (ethylbromoacetat e and zinc) yielded 3B-acyloxy'15B-hydroxy- 14a-bromo-14wcard-20(22)-enolide (IX); heating Compound IX with a mild base, such as sodium or potassium acetate in an organic polar solvent such as acetone, dioxane, tertiary butyl alcohol to yield 3,3-acyloxy-l4(l5)- oxido-(22)-cardenolide (Xb); hydrolyzing the 3,3- acyloxy-l4 15 -oxido-20 22) -cardenolide (Xb) thru fermentation with Rhizopus shanghaiensis to yield 3/3-hydroxy-14(15)-oxido-20(22)-cardenolide (Xa) and treating Compound (Xa) dissolved in an organic solvent, for example, dioxane with an alkali metal borohydride to reduce the 14(15)-oxido bond and thus to give 3B,l4;3 dihydroxy-20( 22 -cardenolide (digitoxigenin) (XIa) It is an object of the present invention to provide a process for the preparation of digitoxigenin. Another object of the instant invention is to provide bronro-14m-card-20(22)-enolide and 3/8-hydr0xyand 3fi -acyloxy-l4(15)-oxido-20(22)-cardenolide.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a process for the preparation of these compounds. Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains.

The instant novel process is a valuable new synthesis for pure digitoxigenin from readily available 14- or 15- oxygenated progesterone, available from progesterone. Digitoxigenin is the aglycon of the natural occurring digitoxin and possesses almost equal cardiac activity. Furthermore digitoxigenin can be converted (Chen 1943, Elderfield et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 69, 2235 (1947)), into the synthetic glycoside, glucose-digitoxigenin, in which form, according to Chen et al., J. Pharmacol. Exptl. Therap. 103, 420 (1951), it possesses almost three times the cardiac activity of digitoxin. Syntheticpreparation of a pure cardiac glycoside or its aglycon has the specific advantage of providing simplified dosage by weight instead of dosage based upon bioassay against primary standards as it is now necessary with the various digitalis preparations. V The starting materials of the present, process are 140:-

hydroxyprogesterone, prepared as shown, for example, in US. Patent 2,670,358, and 15u-hydroxyprogesteronc esters, preferredly the 15a-acyloxy esters wherein the acyloxy group is AcO, Ac being the acyl radical of a carboxylic acid containing from one to eight carbon atoms, inclusive, the preparations of which are shown in Preparations 1 through 4.

In carrying out the process of the instant invention the selected 15a-hydroxyprogesteroneISa-acylate (I) is pyrolyzed suitably in a combustion tube in a combustion furnace at a temperature between 275 and 400 degrees centigrade. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the pyrolysis of the selected l5a-acyloxyprogesterone (I) to obtain 4,l4-pregnadiene-3,20 dione (II) is carried out by distilling Compound (1) thru a tube in an inert gas atmosphere, extracting the distillate with suitable organic water-immiscible solvents such as methylene dichloride, ethylene dichloride, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, Skellysolve B hexane hydrocarbons, and the like and purifying the thus obtained material by conventional means such as recrystallization, extraction or chromatography or combinations thereof. Alternatively, l4br-hydroxyprogesterone may-be used as starting material. The 14a-hydroxyprogesterone is dehydrated by heating it dissolved in an acid anhydride, such as acetic anhydride in the presence of an equal, or two to three times larger weight of potassium acid sulfate compared to the weight of the steroid. Such a reaction mixture is conveniently heated on the steam bath and after a period of half an hour, cooled with ice, diluted with water and maintained at room temperature for sixteen hours. From the aqueous solution the 4,14-pregnadiene-3,20- dione may be isolated by extraction and purified by conventional means such as chromatography, extractions and recrystallization or combinations thereof.

The thus-obtained 4,14-pregnadiene-3,20-dione (II) is submitted to fermentation by Ophiobolus herpotrichus in a suitable fermentation medium containing assimilable carbohydrates and nitrogen such as proteins or amino acids, and mineral factors, as shownin the example. The fermentation process is aided by aeration and agita tion as well as by regulating the temperature to about 25 to 32 degrees Centigrade. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, Ophiobolus herpotrichus is first grown in the fermentation medium under aeration and agitation for a period of 24 hours before the addition of the steroid to be fermented. After a period of twelve to 72 hours the fermentation is interrupted and the steroids in the mixture are isolated by conventional means such as extraction with organic solvents, for example, methylene dichloride, ethylene dichloride, chloroform, acetone, and mixtures thereof. From the extractives the 21-hydroxy- 4, l4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione (IIIa) is obtained by conventional means such as trituration of the oily residues after the extraction solvent has been removed, recrystallization, chromatography or combination of such means.

21-l1ydroxy-4,14-pregnadiene-3,20 dione (Illa), thus prepared, is thereuponhydrogenated, suitably dissolved in an organic solvent such as methanol, ethanol, acetone, dioxane, tertiary butyl alcohol, with methanol preferred and in the presence of palladium in a basic medium such as, for example, palladium on a zinc oxide, cadmium oxide, zinc carbonate or cadmium carbonate carrier, or palladium in potassiumhydroxide, sodium" hydroxide, barium hydroxide solution, and the like. The thus obtained 21-hydroxy-14-pregnene-3,20-dione (IVa) is isolated from the reaction mixture by eliminating by filtration or selective extraction of the steroid the catalyst material, evaporating the resulting solution, and extracting, recrystallizing or chromatographing the remaining residue to obtain pure 21-hydroxy-14-pregnene-3,20- dione (IVa).

Instead of hydrogenating 21-hydroxy-4,14-pregnadiene-3,20-dione (HIa) the 21-acyloxy-4,14-pregnadiene- 3,20-dione (IIIb) may be hydrogenated to give the corresponding 21-acyloxy-14-pregnene 3,20 dione (IV b) 2l-acyloxy-14-pregnene-3,20-dione may also be obtained by esterification of the 2l-hydroxy-14-pregnene-3,20- dione (Iva). Esterification of either the 2l-hydroxy- 4,l4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione (IIIa) or of 2l-hydroxy-14- pregnene-3,20-dione (IVa)- is carried out by conventional means such as by mixing either of the starting compounds with an acylating agent, for example, ketene, a ketene of a selected acid, an acid, such as formic acid, an acid chloride or acid bromide, an acid anhydride or other known acylating agents, usually in a solvent such as, for example, pyridine or the like or an inert solvent, including solvents like benzene, toluene, ether, and the like, and heating to a temperature between about zero degrees centigrade and the boiling point of the reaction mixture, usually about room temperature (twenty to thirty degrees centigrade) for a period between about a half an hour and about 96 hours. The time of reaction is somewhat dependent upon the temperature at which the reaction is carried out, the acylating agent, and the ratio of reactants. The reaction mixture is quenched with ice or cold water and the product is collected in an organic solvent which is thereafter washed with successive portions of a mildly basic solution and water to obtain a solution of the product which is essentially neutral. In some instances the product recrystallized from the reaction mixture, in which case it may be advantageous to separate the product by filtration or other means, wash with water and thereafter purify by conventional means such as for example by recrystallization from a suitable solvent or chromatographic purification, as deemed necessary. The acyloxy groups preferably replacing the 21- hydroxyl groups in either 21-hydroxy-4,14-pregnadiene- 3,20-dione or 2l-hydroxy-14-pregnene-3,20-dione are the acyloxy radicals of hydrocarbon carboxylic acid containing from one to eight carbon atoms, inclusive. Obviously other carboxylic acids can be used, however, they formic, acetic, propionic, butyric, isobutyric, valeric, isovaleric, hexanoic, heptanoic, octanoic, B-cyclopentylpropionic, benzoic, toluic, phenylacetic, and the like.

The thus obtained 21 hydroxy 14 pregnen-3,20- dione (lVa) or in the preferred embodiment the thus obtained 21 acyloxy l4 pregnene 3,20 dione (IVb) is then reduced with sodium borohydride to give the corresponding 21-hydroxyor 21-acyloxy 3a hydroxy-l4- pregnen-ZO-one. The reduction is preferably'carried out while the selected steroid is dissolved in dioxane, ether or tetrahydrofuran at a temperature of minus ten to plus 20 degrees. The sodium borohydride is preferably added under vigorous stirring dissolved in a very small amount of sodium or potassium hydroxide solution. A concentration of 50 to 100 milligrams of sodium borohydride per milliliter of 0.05 to 0.2 normal sodium -hydroxide solution is used. The reaction time is between five to ten minutes and two hours; commonly fifteen to 30 minutes are sutficient to reduce Compounds IVa or IVb to the corresponding 21-hydroxy-' or 21-acyloxy- 3m-hydroxy-l4-pregnen-20-one (Va and Vb). Products V are isolated from the reaction mixture by neutralizing the reaction mixture with a dilute acid, for example, dilute hydrochloric acid and extracting Compound V with a water-immiscible solvent such as methylene dichloride, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, ethylene dichloride, Skellysolve B hexanes, and the like. The extracts are then treated in conventional manner, that is products Vb, 21 acyloxy 3a hydroxy 14 pregnen- 20-ones are obtained by removing through distillation the solvent 'and purifying the residue in conventional "manner such as by recrystallization and chromatography.

The thus-obtained 21 acyloxy- 3a hydroxy 14 pregnen-ZO-one (Vb) is then esterified in the 3-position with an arylsulfonic acid. For this purpose 21-acyloxy- 3e-hydroxy-14-pregnen-20-one is dissolved in pyridine or in an inert solvent such' as benzene, toluene, dioxane,

acetone,land the like, and thereto is added an arylsul-' ification with the selected arylsulfonyl halide is prefer ably carried out at room temperature by maintaining the mixture for a period of three to 24 hours whereafterthe ester is isolated by conventional methods, such as precipitation from the mixture after water had been added, filtration and recrystallization to purify the material and to obtain pure 21-acyloxy-3ot-ary1sulfonyloxy-l4-pregnen- 20-one (VI).

The 21 acyloxy 30c (arylsulfonyloxy) 14 pregnen-20-one (VI) is converted to the corrresponding 3B- isomer esters by treating it in solution of a carboxylic acid containing from one to eight carbon atoms, inclusive, and having a melting point below fifty degrees centigrade with the corresponding sodium or potassium hydrocarbon carboxylic acid acylate. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the reaction mixture is boiled for a period of one to four hours and thereafter the excess carboxylic acid is removed. Evaporation aided by an air stream or vacuum distillation are the preferred means to remove the excess organic acid. The residue is purified by conventional means such as recrystallization from suitable solvents and/or chromatography when indicated. In this manner a 3 S-ester, the 3 8,21 7 diacyloxy 14 pregnen 1 20 one (VIIb) is obtained. nen-ZO-one with sodium carbonate or dilute sodium hydroxide in aqueous alcoholic solution under nitrogen produces the corresponding 3,8,2l-diol, 3,8,2l-dihyd1'0xy- 14-pregnen-20-one (VIIa).

The thus obtained 3,8,21-diacyloxy-14-pregnen-20 one (VIIb), dissolved in a suitable organic solvent such as methylene dichloride, ethylene dichloride, dioxane,"tertiary butyl alcohol, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride and mixtures thereof is admixed with hypohalous acid or preferably with a reagent releasing a hypohalous acid such as an N-halohydrocarbon acid amide, for example, N-bromoacetamide, N-chloroacetamide, N-bromosuccinimide, N-chlorosuccinimide, when dissolved in an aqueous mineral acid acidified solution. In the preferred embodiment, two to three mole equivalents of the N-halohydrocarbon carboxylic acid amides are used for each molar equivalent of 313,21-diacet0xy 14-pregnen-20-one (VIIb).

To acidity the solution of the N-halohydrocarbon carboxylic acid amide, one to five acid equivalents of a mineral acid such as sulfuric, perchloric or periodic acid are each molar equivalent of the N-halohydrocarbon' car'- boxylic acid. amide. After a reaction period offromjfive to sixty minutes any further reaction is preventedjfo r example, by adding sodium sulfite, dissolved'in water.

The solution is then concentrated in vacuo and poured I Y into a large amount of chipped ice. The precipitate thus obtained is removed by filtration and if sodesired pu'rified, by recrystallization to give pure 3;3,21-diacy1oxy- 1Sfi-hydroxy-14a-bomopregnan-20-one. The thus-obtained 3,8,21 diacyloxy 15,3 hydroxy- Saponification of the 3fl,21-diacyloxy-14-preg-' lgrgmoacetate. In the preferred procedure the ethyl bromacetate is added dropwise under stirring with regulation of the speed of reaction by heating or cooling the reaction flask as deemed necessary, usually cooling at the onset of the reaction and heating toward the end of the reaction. The thus-obtained 3fi-acyloxy-15B- hydroxy 14oz bromo- 14a card 20(22) enolide (IX) is isolated from the reaction mixture by conventional procedures such as extraction with water-immiscihle solvents, for example, ether, methylene dichloride, ethylene dichloride, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, and the like, and recrystallization from suitable organic solvents such as ethyl acetate, acetone, Skellysolve B hexanes, methanol and mixtures of such solvents, and the like.

The thus-obtained bromohydrine compound, 3B-acyloxy-lSB-hydroxy-l4a-bromo-14a-card-20(22) enolide is converted to the corresponding 14,15-oxido compound (Xb) by reacting 3fi-acetoxy-ISB-hydroxy-l4a-bromo- 14a-card -20(22)-enolide with a base such as potassium acetate, sodium acetate, soda lime, or basic hydroxides such as hydroxides of sodium, potassium, calcium, barium, and the like. The reaction is usually carried out in an organic solvent. If the selected condensation reagent is strongly basic such as' sodium or potassium hydroxide the solvent must be of such a nature as not to undergo basic condensation, for example, dioxane, tertiary butyl alcohol, and the like. If weaker bases, potassium acetate or sodium acetate, are selected, then acetone, ethyl alcohol, ethyl acetate, or even chlorinated hydrocarbons may be used. Preferably the reaction is carried out at the re flux temperature of the solvent. At the end of the reaction period the reaction mixture is suitably poured into excess of water, the resulting precipitate collected on filter, and the material purified by recrystallization from solvents, for example, acetone, methanol or Skellysolve B'hexanes to give pure 3 3-acyloxy-l4,l5-oxido-20(22) 'cardenolide (Xb).

The thus-obtained 3/8- acyloxy-l4(lS)-oxido-20(22)- cardenolide (Xb) is hydrolyzed to the corresponding 3- alcohol (Xa) by using a fungus selected from the genus Rhizopus, suitably Rhizopus shanghaiensis (ATCC 10329) in an anaerobic short term fermentation, with medium and conditions of agitation as described in US. Patent 2,602,769 and more specifically in the example of the instant application. After the fermentation the thus-produced 3 fl-hydroxy-l4( l -oxido-(22)-cardenolide (Xa) is separated and isolated from the fermentation medium by conventional means, such as extraction, re-

crystallization, chromatography or combinations thereof as described in detail in the example.

T he thus-obtained 3,9-hydroxy-14(l5)-oxido-20(22)- cardenolide (Xa) is thereafter reduced with a metallic hydride, such as sodium or potassium borohydride. The

reduction is generally carried out at a temperature between zero and 30 degrees centigrade in dioxane, tetrahydrofuran or other solvent solutions. The lower tem- .ride, methylene dichloride, and the like. After the solvent is. removed from the extract a solid residue is obtained whichconsisted of two major components digitoxigcnin droxy isomer which were separated by chromatography. The. following examples are illustrative of the process of. the. present invention and are not to be construed as PREPARATION 1 15qt-hydr0xypr0gester0ne A medium was prepared having a composition of fifty grams of Cerelose dextrose, three grams of tartaric acid, three grams of ammonium nitrate, 0.4 gram of dibasic ammonium phosphate, 0.4 gram of potassium carbonate, 0.3 gram of magnesium carbonate, 0.3 gram of diammonium sulfate, 0.2 gram of zinc sulfate, 0.05 gram of ferrous sulfate, and one gram of sodium acetate diluted to one liter with industrial tap water. Twelve liters of this heat-sterilized medium was inoculated with spores of Penicillium urticae, ATCC 10120. Into this, there was dispersed a solution of three grams of progesterone in 150 milliliters of acetone. Fermentation proceeded at room temperature for 48 hours with agitation and aeration at a rate of one liter per minute. The whole beer containing mycelium was extracted four times, each time with three liters of methylene chloride. The combined methylene chloride extract was washed twice, each time with one-tenth by volume portions of a two percent aqueous solution of sodium bicarbonate and then twice with one-tenth by volume portions of water. The methylene chloride extract was dried with anhydrous sodium sulfate and then freed of solvent on a steam bath. The residue was dissolved in 300 milliliters of benzene and chromatographed over 150 grams of alumina (hydro.- chloric acid washed, water washed, and dried at degrees centigrade for four hours) using 300-milliliter portions of developing solvent as indicated in Table I.

Fractions 19 and 20 were combined and dissolved in methylene dichloride, mixed with a small proportion of Magnesol magnesium silicate and filtered. The filtrate was concentrated to five milliliters and then mixed with fifty milliliters of ether to give 746 milligrams of a crystalline precipitate. Recrystallized from 25 milliliters of ethyl acetate and then from five milliliters of methylene chloride by the addition of fifty milliliters of ether produced 572 milligrams of crystals melting at 223 to 230 degrees centigrade. Two further recrystallizations from methylene dichloride ether yielded 302 milligrams of l5ahydroxyprogesterone having a melting point of 230 to 234 degrees centigrade, [111 224 degrees (C. 1.0 in chloroform),

M23, 242; E=16,4OO

AnaIysis.-Calculated for C H O C, 76.32; H, 9.15.

Found: C, 76.79; H, 9.49.

The infrared spectrum confirmed the structure.

TABLE I Eluate Fractlon Solvent Solids,

Milligrams 1 benzene 98 2. ..do 3.3 3.- benzeneether 20: 1.. 24 4 .d 54 5 benzene-ether 1 123. 5 6. o 177 7- henzeueether 1 1. 200 8 l0 245 9. ether 191 10, o 142 11. ether-chloroform 2 GS 12 0 G4 13. ether-chloroform 1021.. 13 14 0 12 15 ether-chloroform 1:1 17 16. .do. 71 17 do 104 18 do 93 19, chloroform. 42 20. --.-.do 632 21.--. .-...do. 301 22...- ...do 84 23 chloroform-acetone 21:1- 42 24. lCel'fl'lP 51 25-27 me n1 181 9" PREPARATION 2 IS-acetoxyprogesterone A mixture of 100 milligrams of IS-hydroxyprogesterone, one milliliter of acetic anhydride and one milliliter of pyridine was maintained at room temperature for 24 hours. It was then quenched with 100 milliliters of ice water and extracted with chloroform. The chloroform extracts were washed twice with five percent hydrochloric acid, twice with five percent sodium carbonate and three times with water. Evaporation of the washed extract gave 105 milligrams of oily residue which was crystallized from ethyl acetate and recrystallized from methanol to yield 80.5 milligrams of 15-acetoxyprogesterone having a melting point of 181 to 183 degrees centigrade. Structui'e was confirmed by infrared spectrum; A maximum in alcohol of 241 millimicrons, E of 16,800;.and an optical rotation M1 of plus 178 degrees at aconcentration of 1.0 in chloroform.

PREPARATION 3 15a-jormyloxyprogesterone PREPARATION 4 15u-benz0xyprogester0ne In the same manner as in Preparation 2, using benzoyl chloride in place of acetic anhydride, produced 15a-benzoyloxyprogesterone.

In a similar manner other esters of 15 uhydroxyprogesterone are prepared according to the acylation procedure illustrated above or by reactions with ketene, ketenes of selected acids, selected acids, acid anhydrides or acid halides such as acid chlorides and acid bromides in an organic solvent such as pyridine, or the like. Representative of such. lu-acyloxyprogesterones are the acylates of IS-hydroxyprogesterone of hydrocarbon carboxylic acid esters of saturated or unsaturated aliphatic, carboxylic or cycloaliphatic, arylalkyl, alkaryl, monoor dipolycarboxylic acids having between one to eight carbon atoms, inclusive, such as, for example, the propionyloxy, butyryloxy, isobutyryloxy, valeryloxy, isovaleryloxy, hexanoyloxy, heptanoyloxy, octanoyloxy, benzoyloxy, phenylacetoxy, toluyloxy, B-cyclopentylpropionyloxy, acrylyloxy, hemisuccinyloxy, hemimaleyloxy, hemitartaryloxy, dihydrogencitryloxy, dimethyland trimethylacetoxy, or the like. The acids may also contain non-interfering substituents such as mono, or poly halo, chloro, bromo, hydroxy, methoxy, and the like groups if so desired;

EXAMPLE 1 4,14-pregnadiene-3,20-di0ne from a-acetoxy progesterone One gram of 15u-acetoxyprogesterone was placedin a tion was then dried with anhydrous sodium sulfate'andi the solvent removed Thereupon 854 milligrams of an oily residue was obtained. This residue was dissolved in 200 milliliters ofSkellysolve B hexane hydrocarbons and chromatographed over 40 grams of alumina. ,Fractions' of 200 milliliters were'collected as shown in Table II.

Eluate fractions 7 through 10 were combined and recrystallized three times from ethanol to give 350 milli grams of 4,14-pregnadiene-3,ZO-dione of melting point 144 to 147 degrees eentigrade and rotation [al +128.

degrees. v

. jAnalysis.--Calculated for C31H3O3: C, Found: C, 80.58; H, 8.99. V I

TABLE II Eluate Fraction Solvent Solids,

Milligrams r g Skelysolve B (petroleum ether) o 3 do 3.0 4 Skellysolve B-benzene 1:1 14.0 5 6.0 6 do 15.0 7 Benzene 117. 5 R 0 123.0 9 d0 85.5 10 Benzene-10% ether 214.0 11 rln 52.5 12 dn 6.0 13 Benzeme30% ether EXAMPLE 2 4,14-pregnadiene-3,Z0 dione from ISa-propionyloxyprogesterone In the same manner as given in Example 1, l5a-propionyloxyprogesterone instead of the l5u-acetoxyproge'sterone was pyrolyzed at a temperature of 350 degrees centigrade to yield 4,l4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione.

EXAMPLE 3 4,14-pregnadiene-3,20-dione from 15u-benzoyl0xy- V progesterone Three grams of 14a-hydroxyprogesterone was dissolved in 50 milliliters of acetic anhydride. To this solution there was added 4.5 grams of freshly fused potassium acid sulfate. The mixture was heated on the steam bath for thirty minutes, then cooled with ice. The cooled solution was diluted with 300 milliliters of ice water and maintained overnight. The aqueous solution ,was then extracted withchloroform four times. Chloroform extracts were washed three times with a five percent sodium carbonate solution and four times with=.water. Upon, concentration of the chloroform extracts, 2.7 grams of a waxy residue was obtained.

The residue was dissolved .in 150 milliliters of Skellysolve B hexane hydrocarbon and purified by'chromatography over'135 grams of alumina. Fractions of 150 milliliters were collected as shown in Table III.

' TABLE III I Eluate Fraction I Solvent Solids,

' Milligrams Skellysolve B Skellysolve B% benzene Ben one Benzene-% ether 27. Benzene-50% ether 35. 6 do 51. 7 Ether 53. 8 do a 67. 9---"; Ether-10%chloroform 45. in dn 77. 11 Ether-20% chloroform i 80. 12 (ln 71. 13 Ether30% chloroform 107. 14 d0 168.- 15 Ether-50% chloroform 119. 16 dn 137, 17 Ohloroform 141: 18 Ar-ptnnn 906, 19 A Methanol 119.

' 11 fractions 13 thro g 1 w r combine a total of 532 milligrams, recrystallized from ethyl acetatmsublimed at 0.05 millimeter pressure and at 135 degrees centigrade, and recrystallized once more from methanol to give 291.5 milligrams of 4,l4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione of melting point 144 to 146 degrees centigrade.

EXAMPLE 5 21 -hydr0xy-4,14-pregnadiene-3,ZO-dione Eight liters of a medium were prepared containing per liter 30 grams of malt extract, 50 grams of Cerelose dex trose, two grams of dihydrogen potassium phosphate, 0.5 gram of magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, and 0.03 gram of zinc sulfate heptahydrate. Eight liters of this heat sterilized medium were inoculated with Ophiobolus lzerpotrichus and grown for a period of 24 hours at a rate of aeration equal to one liter per minute and a rate of agitation of 200 rpm. To this fermentation mixture containing a 24-hour growth of Ophiobolus herpotrichus, two grams of 4,14-pregnadiene-3,20 dione dissolved in acetone was added. After an incubation period of 48 hours at a temperature between 26 and 30 degrees, the reaction mixture was extracted with methylene dichloride to give 3.55 grams of an oily extractive which crystallized upon trituration with ether. The steroid compound was recovered after a three-fold trituration of the extractives and decantation of the ether mother liquors. Thus, 1.2 grams of 2l'hydroxy-4,l4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione of melting point 182 to 184 degrees centigrade was obtained.

EXAMPLE 6 21 -acet0.ty-4,14-pregnadiene-3,20-di0ne One hundred milligrams of 21-hydroxy-4,14pregnadiene-3,20-di0ne was dissolved in two milliliters of absolute pyridine and one milliliter of acetic anhydride. The mixture was maintained for a period of two hours, then diluted with water, and chilled, and the resulting precipitate was collected on a filter. The crystals were redissolved in two milliliters of acetone and precipitated from acetone by the addition of hexane to the acetone solution. The thus-obtained recrystallized 21-acetoxy- 4,l4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione had a melting point of 142 degrees centigrade.

EXAMPLE 7 21 -propionyl0qcy-4,1 4-pregnadiene-3,20-di0ne In the same manner as given in Example 6, using the equivalent proportion of propionic anhydride in place of acetic anhydride produced 21-propionyloxy-4,14-pregnadiene-3,20-dione.

EXAMPLE 8 21 -benzoyloxy-4,14-pregnadiene-3,20-di0ne In the same manner as given in Example 6, using the equivalent proportion of benzoyl chloride in place of acetic anhydride produced 21-benzoyloxy-4,14-pregna diene-3,20-dione.

In a similar manner as given in Examples 6 thru 8, other esters of 21-hydroxy-4,14-pregnadiene-3,20-dione are prepared by reacting 21-hydroxy-4,14-pregnadiene- 3,20-dione with the selected acid anhydride, ketene,

acetoxy-, bromoacetoxy-, hemiquinolinoyloxy-, nicotinyloxy-, piperonyloxy-, (2-furoyloxy)-, thioglycollyloxy-, (para chlorobenzoyloxy)-, (para bromobenzoyloxy) (meta nitroben zoylox'y) (3,5 -dinitrobenzoyloxy) -4, 14- pregnadiene3,20-dione, and the like.

EXAMPLE 9 21 -hydr0xy-l 4-pregnene-3,20-di0ne A palladium zinc carbonate zinc oxide catalyst was prepared as follows: eleven grams of anhydrous zinc chloride was dissolved in milliliters of water at seventy degrees centigrade, and a twenty percent aqueous solution of sodium carbonate was added in excess, with constant stirring, to form a precipitate of zinc carbonate'. The precipitate was filtered, washed free of alkali with warm water, and resuspended in 100 milliliters of water to form a slurry. To this aqueous slurry was added five milliliters of a palladium chloride solution containing 0.5 gram of palladium, and then one milliliter of 37 percent aqueous formaldehyde solution. The resulting red-brown colored mixture was warmed on a steam bath to about sixty degrees centigrade and a thirty percent aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide then addeddropwise, with continual stirring, until the pH of the mixture reached nine, at which point palladium precipitated. The black-colored precipitate was washed by decantation with ten successive fifty-milliliter portions of water and then filtered under suction. The precipitate on the filter funnel was washed six times, dried by suction, and heated in an oven at 210 degrees centigrade for a period of eleven hours. Six and eight-tenths grams of a brown colored catalyst consisting of palladium supported on a zinc carbonate-zinc oxide mixture was obtained.

1.5 grams of this catalyst was introduced into ten milliliters of methanol and the mixture hydrogenated for a period of one hour. To this solution was then added 1.5 grams of 21-hydroxy-4,14-pregnadiene-3,20-dione, dissolved in 100 milliliters of methanol. This reaction mixture took up 1.1 moles of hydrogen within 15 minutes. The reaction was interrupted and the solution was filtered and the filtrate put through a column of activated carbon and diatomaceous earth 1:1 (60 grams). The desired product was recovered by elution with nine fractions of 300-milliliters of acetone to give 1.25 grams of crystals of melting point to 157.

EXAMPLE 10 21-acetoxy-14-pregnene-3,20-dione To a solution of 80 milligrams of 21-hydroxy-14-pregnene-3,20 dione in 1.5 milliliters of pyridine was added one milliliter of acetic anhydride and the mixture allowed to stand for a period of three hours. Thereafter the reaction mixture was diluted with fifty milliliters of ice water and the resulting aqueous solution filtered, obtaining in this manner crystals of 21-acetoxy-l4-pregnene-3,20-dione which were recrystallized from methanol to give pure 21-acetoxy-l4-pregnene-3,20-dione of melting point 154 to 157.

I EXAMPLE 1 1 21-([3-cyclopentylpropionylaxy -14-pregnenc-3,20-dione In the same manner as given in Example 10, using the equivalent proportion of (fl-cyclopentylpropionyl chloride) in place of acetic anhydride produced 21-(fi-cyclo; pentylpropionyloxy -'14-pregnene-3 ,ZQ-dione.

EXAMPLE 12 21 -butyryloxy-1 4-pregnene-3,20-dione In the same manner as given in Example 10, using the equivalent proportion of butyric anhydride in place of acetic anhydride produced 2l-butyryloxy-14-pregnene-3, ZO-dione.

13 EXAMP E 13 h h 21 hexanoyloxy-M-pregnene-3,20-dione In the same manner as given in'EXample 10, using the equivalent proportion of hexanoic acid anhydride in place of acetic anhydride produced 21-hexanoyloxy-l4- pregnene-3,20-dione.

EXAMPLE 14 21-benzoyloxy-14-pregnene-3,20vdione In the same manner as given in Example 9, hydrogenating 2l-bcnzoyloxy-4,l4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione instead of 21-hydroxy-14-pregnene-3,20.dione with hydrogen in the presence of a palladium-zinc oxide catalyst prepared as described before yields 2l-benzoyloxy-14-pregnene-3, 20-dione.

EXAMPLE 15 21. m ionyloxy-14-pregnene-3,20-di0ne In the same manner as given in Example 9, hydrogenating 2l-propiony1oXy-4,l4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione instead of 2l-hydroxy-l4-pregnene-3,20-dione with hydrogen in the presence ofa palladium-zinc oxide-zinc carbonate catalyst yields 2l-propionyloxy-14-pregnene-3,20- dione.

' EXAMPLE 16 21-t0luyl0xy-14-pregnene-3,20-dione In the same manner as given in Example 9, hydrogenating 21-toluyloXy-4,l4-pregnadiene-3,20 dione instead of 2l-hydroxy-14-pregnene-3,20-dione with hydrogen in the presence of palladium-zinc oxide-zinc carbonate catalyst prepared as described before yields 21,-toluyloxy-l4-pregnene-3,20-dione..

EXAMPLE 17 21-anisoyloxy-14-pregnene-3,20-di0ne EXAMPLE 1 8 21 -acetxy-3 a-hy droxy -I 4 -pregnen-20-ori e A solution of 1.2 grams of 21-acetoXy-l4-pregnene- 3,20-dione, dissolved in 7.5 milliliters of dioxane, redistilled over lithium aluminum hydride, was cooled to a temperature of ten degrees centigrade. To this solution was added, under vigorous stirring, 38.9 milligrams of sodium borohydride, dissolved in 0.6 milliliter of 0.1 normal sodium hydroxide solution. At the same time 6.0 milliliters of cold, deionized water was added. After a reaction time of fifteen minutes at 'a temperature of twenty degrees Centigrade, the reaction mixture was neutralized with dilute hydrochloric acid and extracted with methylene dichloride. T he methylene extracts were purified by chromatography over Florisil anhydrous mag nesium silicate and recrystallized to give 677 milligrams of ZI-acetoXy-Bd-hydroxy-l4-pregnene-3,20-dione of melt- In the same manner as given in Example 18, reducing -2l-benzoyloxy-14-pregnene3,20-dionel with potassium same or dissimilar.

borohydride yielded 2l-benzoyloxy-3a-hydroxy-14-pregnene-3,20-dione. I 1 1 EXAMPLE 20 21 propionyloxy-3a-hydroxy-14-pregnen-20-one In the same manner as given in Example 18, reducing 21-pr0pionyloxy-14-pregnene-3,20-dione with potassium borohydride yielded 21-propionyloXy-3u-hydroxy-14-preg: nene-3,20-dione.

EXAMPLE 21 21 fi-cyclopentylprop iony loxy i-3a-hydr0xy-14-pregnen- 20-0ne In the same manner as given in Example 18, reducing 2l-propionyloxy-l'4-pregnene-3,20-dione with sodium borohydride yielded 2l-propionyloxy-3 a-hydroxy-14-pregnene-3,20-dione. I

EXAMPLE 22 I 21-toluyloxy-3a-hydroxy-14 pregnen-20 0ne In the same manner as given in Example 18, reducing 2l-toluyloxy-14-pregnene-3,20-dione with sodium borohydride yielded 2l-toluyloxy-3u-hydroxy-l4-pregnene-3,20- dione.

In a manner similar to Examples 18 through 2.2, using the starting materials of Examples 10 through 17 with sodium or potassium borohydride is productive of the corresponding 2l-acyloxy 3a-hydroxy-14-pregnen-20-ones.

EXAMPLE ,23

3 04,21 -diacetoxy-14-pregnen-20-one In a manner similar to Example 23 by esterifying 2 lacyloxy-Ba-hydroxy-l4-pregnen-20-ones with selected acid anhydrides or acid halides, other representative 3oc,21i-' diacyloxy-14-pregnen-20-ones are obtained wherein the 'acyloxy group of the 3m and the 21-position may be the Illustratively, other 3a,21-diacyloxy- 14-pregnen-20-ones include; 3a,2l-dipropionyloxy-, 3a,2l-

I V dibutyryloxy-, 3u,2l-divaleryloxy-, 3u,21-dihexanoyloxy-,

3oz,21-dibenzoyloxy-, 3a,2l-diphenylacetoXy-, 3a-acetoxy- To a solution of fifty milligrams of 21-acetoXy-3 a-hydroxy-14-pregnen-20-one.in two millilters of ethyl alcohol was added fifty milligrams of sodium bicarbonate. The I mixture-was refluxed in a nitrogen atmosphere for a period of48 hours, filtered through filter paper, and

poured into twenty milliliters of ice water. The oily residue was recrystallized from acetone and Skellysolve B hexane hydrocarbons to give 3a,2l-dihydroxy-14-pregnen 20-one. In a manner similar to Example 24 other 21-acyloxy- 3u-hydroxy-l4-pregnen-20-ones and 3u,21-diacyloxy-14 pregnen-ZO-ones like those shown in Examples l923- are :7 I

hydrolyzed to give 3a,2I dihydrOXy-14-pregnen 20 one.

EXAM L 5 21-acetoxy-3a-(para-toluenesulfonyloxy)-14-pregnen-20- one To a solution of 2.1 grams of 2l-acetoxy-3a-hydroxy- 14-pregnen-20-one in 25 milliliters of dry pyridine Was added 1.5 grams of para-toluenesulfonyl chloride. After maintaining at room temperature for a period of fifteen hours the solution was diluted with 300 milliliters of water. The precipitate thus obtained was separated by filtration, washed with water several times, and recrystallized three times with ethyl acetate-chloroform 1:1 to give 1.95 grams of 21-acetoxy-3a-(para-toluenesulfonyloxy)-14-pregnen- 20-one of melting point 212 to 215 degrees centigrade.

EXAMPLE 26 21-benz0yloxy-3u-(para-toiuenesulfonyloxy)114-pregnen- In the manner given in Example 25, 21-benezoyloxy- 3a-hydroxy-14-pregnen-20-one was reacted with paratoluenesulfonyl chloride to produce 21-benzoyloxy-3a- (para-toluenesulfonyloxy) -14-pregnen20-one.

EXAMPLE 27 21-benz0yloxy-3a-benzenestzlfonyloxy-14-pregnen-20-0ne In the same manner as given in Example 25, 21- benzoyloxy-3u-hydroxy-14-pregnen-20-one is reacted with benzenesulfonyl chloride to produce 21-benzoyloxy-3mbenzenesulfonyloxy-l4-pregnen-20-one.

EXAMPLE 28 21 propionyloxy c (para chlorobenzenesulfonyl- 0xy)-14-pregnen-20-one In the same manner as given in Example 25, 21-propionyloxy-3a-hydroxy-14-pregnen-20-one was treated with para-chlorobenzenesulfonyl bromide to give 21-propionyloxy 3a (parachlorobenzenesulfonyloxy) 14 pregnen-ZO-one.

EXAMPLE 29 21 toluyloxy 3oz (para bromobenzenesulfonyloxyy 14-pregnen-20-one In the same manner as given in Example 25, 21-toluyloxy-3a-hydroxy-14-pregnen-20-one was treated with para-bromobenzenesulfonyl bromide to give 21-toluyloxy- 3oz (para bromobenzenesulfonyloxy) 14 pregnen- 20-one.

EXAMPLE 30 21 butyryloxy 3oz (5 naphthylsulfonyloxy) 14- pregnen-ZO-One In the same manner as given in Example 25, 21- butyryloxy-Sn-hydroxy-l4-pregnen-20-one was with p-naphthylsulfonyl bromide to give 21-butyryloxy- 3 ocfl-naphthylsulfonyloxy) -14-pregnen-20-one.

EXAMPLE 31 21 propionyloxy 3a (para toluenesulfonylaxy) 14- pregnen-ZO-one treated mina.

EXAMPLE 32 35,21-diacet0xy-14-pregnen-20-0ne 'A solution of 1.55 grams of 21-acetoXy-3u-(paratoluenesulfonyloxy)-14-pregnen-20-one, 1.5 grams otanhydrous sodium acetate and fifty milliliters of glacial acetic acid were refluxed for a period of two hours at atmospheric pressure. Thereafter the solution was concentrated in an air stream, and the residue after dispersion in water, extracted with chloroform. The chloroform extracts were washed three times with five percent sodium hydroxide and three times with water. The residual extractives, 1.60 grams, were purified by chromatography over 75 grams of hydrochloric acid washed alu- Ether-five percent chloroform eluted 755 milligrams of 21-acetoxy-3,14-pregnadien-20-one and etherfifty percent chloroform and chloroform eluted 805 milligrarns of 3,8,21-diacetoxy-l4-pregnen-20-one which was recrystallized twice from ethanol to give a melting point of 178 to degrees centigrade.

EXAMPLE 33 3p-acet oxy-21-pr0pionyloxy-I4-pregnen-20-0ne In the same manner as given in Example 32, 21-propionyloxy 3a (para toluenesulfonyloxy) 14 pregnen-20-0ne was refluxed in'glacial acetic acid in the presence of anhydrous potassium acetate to give Bfl-acetoxy- 2l-propionyloxy-14-pregnen-20-one.

EXAMPLE 34 3p-butyryI 0xy-21-pr0pionyloxy-14-pregnen-ZO-one In the same manner as given in Example 32, 21-

propionyloxy 3a (para chlorobenzenesulfonyloxy)- 14-pregnen-20-one was treated with butyric acid and potassium butyrate to give 3fi-butyryloxy-2l-propionyloxy-14-pregnen-20-one.

EXAMPLE 35 3/3-propionyloxy-21-benzoyloxy-14-pregnen-20-one In the same manner as given in Example 32, 21-benzoyloxy-3a-benzenesulfonyloxy-14-pregnen-20-one is refluxed in propionic anhydride in the presence of sodium propionate to give 3B-propionyloxy-21-benzoyloXy-14- pregnen-ZO-one.

EXAMPLE 36 3p-valeryloxy-21-t0luyloxy-14-pregnen-20-one In the same manner as given in Example 32, 21- toluyloxy 3o: (para bromobenzenesulfonyloxy) 14- pregnen-ZO-one is refluxed in valeric anhydride in the presence of potassium valerate to give 3fi-valeryloxy-21- toluyloxy-14-pregnen-20-one.

EXAMPLE 37 3p-acet0xy-21-butyryloxy-I4-pregnen-20-one In the same manner as given in Example 32, 21-butyryloxy 4 3a (5 naphthylsulfonyloxy) 14 pregnan- -20-one is refluxed in acetic anhydride in the presence of sodium acetate to give 3p3-acetoxy-21-butyryloxy-14-pregnen-20-one.

In the same manner as shown in Examples 32 through 37, other 3,6,21-diacyloxy-14-pregnen-20-ones may be prepared by heating the corresponding 21-acyloxy-3uarylsulfonyloxy-14-pregnen-20-one in a selected hydrocarbon carboxylic acid in the presence of an alkali-metal salt of the same acid. Representative 3B,21-diacyloxy-1 pregnen-20-one thus obtained include: 3fi-acetoxy-21-valeryloxy 14 pregnen 20 one, 3,8 acetoxy 21 hexanoyloxy 14 pregnen 20 one, 3,3 acctoxy 21- heptanoyloxy 14 pregnen 20 one, 3,8 acetoxy- 21 octanoyloxy 14 pregnen 20 one, 35 acetoxy- 21 (/3 cyclopentylpropionyloxy) 14 pregnen 20- one, 3,3 propionyloxy -'21 cinnamyloxy 14 pregne'n 20 one, 313 butyryloxy 21 anisoyloxy 14- pregnen A 20 -'one, 35 valeryloxy 21 gallyloxy 14- a aoaai 1'7 pregnen' 20 one, 3 3 hexanoyloxy 21 hemisuccinyloxy-l4-pregnen-20-one, and the like.

EXAMPLE 38 3,9,2]-dihydroxy-14-pregnen-20-0ne ExAMPLE 39 35,21-diacetoxy-1SB-hydroxy-I4a-br0mopregnan-20-one A solution of 2.5 grams of 35,21-diacetoxy-14-pregnen-20-one in 100 milliliters of methylene dichloride and 200 milliliters of tertiarybutyl alcohol was prepared by vigorous stirring at room temperature. To this solution was added 6.5 milliliters of seventy percent perchloric acid, dissolved in fifty milliliters of-Water, and 1.1 grams of N-bromoacetamide, dissolved in 12' millilitersof tertary butyl alcohol. The mixture was stirred for a period of ten minutes at a temperature of twenty-five degrees Centigrade. Thereafter 1.2 grams of sodium sulfite, dissolved in sixty milliliters of water, was added. The solution was then concentrated to one third of the original volume in vacuo and poured thereafter into 300 milliliters of ice with stirring. The precipitate which separated was collected by filtration and dried in vacuo to give 2.45 grams of crude 3,8,2l-diacetoxy-15 8-hydr0xy-14a-dibromopregnene-20-one which was twice recrystallized from methyl alcohol.

EXAMPLE 4O In the manner given in Example 39, Bfi-acetoxy-Zlpropionyloxy-14-pregnen-20-one, dissolved in methylene dichloride and tertiary butyl alcohol, was treated with an acidified solution of N-bromosuccinirnide to yield 3 3- acetoxy 21 .-propionyloxy 15,8 hydroxy 14a bromopregnen-ZO-One.

EXAMPLE 41 3fl-pr0piony loxy -21 benzolxy-15p-hydr0xy-1 4abromopregnan-ZO-one In the manner given in Example 39, BB-veleryloXy-Zltoluyloxy-14-pregnen-20-one, dissolved in methylene dichloride and tertiary butyl alcohol was treated with N- bromoacetamide acidified with perchloric acid to yield 36- valeryloxy 21 toluyloxy /3 hydroxy .14a bromopregnan-ZO-one. a

' EXAMPLE 43 3 3,21 -diacetoxy-I Sfl-hydroxy- Mu-ch I ropregnahPZO-One In the manner given in Example 39,.3;8,2l-di acetoxy- 14-pregnen-20-one, dissolved in tertiary butyl alcohol, was treated with N -chlorosuccinimide acidified with dilute sul- 'furic acid to yield 3,8,21-diacetoxy-15p-hydroXy-14achloropregnan-ZO-one.

r In the same manner as shown in Examples 39 through 43, other corresponding 3,3,2l-diacyloxy-lSfl-hydroxyof eighteen hours.

diacetoxy-15,8-hydroxy-14a-chloropregnan 20 one was 18 14bt-halopregnen-20-one are prepared by reacting 1 the corresponding 35,2l-diacyloxy-14-pregnen-20-one illustrated by Examples 32-37 with hypobromous acid (HOBr) or hypochlorous acid the hypobromous acid preferably preparedinsitu.

EXAMPLE 44 3/121 -dihydr0xy-1 5 ,d-hydroxyJ 4 a-bromop regna m20-one A mixture of milligrams of 3,8,21-diacetoxy-15B hydroxy-14ot-brornopregnan-20-one, five milliliters of methanol, one milliliter of water and 100 milligrams of sodium carbonate was heated for a period of thirty minutes, allowed to cool, and thereafter poured into twentyfive milliliters of water. The precipitate, an oily residue, was separated from the water layer, redissolved in acetone and twice recrystallized from acetone solution to give pure 313,21 dihydroxy 15p hydroxy 14a bromopregnan-ZO-one.

EXAMPLE 45 3fl-acetoxy-1SB-hydroxy-l4m-bromo-14a-card-20 (22 enolide A mixture of 1.55 grams'of 318,21-diacetoxy-l5fl-hydroxy-14a-bromopregnan-20-one and 1.7 grams of iodinated zinc granules was dried at 100 degrees for a period The mixture was then introduced into fifty milliliters of dry dioxane. To this vigorously stirred mixture was then added dropwise 2.55 grams of ethyl bromoacetate. The reac-tion rnixture was carefully regulated by cooling or warming as necessary. After the bromoacetate had been added the solution was warmed on a steam bath to eighty degrees centigrade for a' period of thirty minutes. Thereafter the reaction mixture was cooled, diluted with fifty milliliters of dry ethanol, filtered and mixed with ether and thirty milliliters of dilute hydrochloric acid. The aqueous layer was extracted twice more with ether, the combined ether extracts were washed with water, and concentrated. The residue was purified by chromatographing over Florisil magnesium silicate. Ethylene dichloride-acetone 3:1 eluted with 855 milligrams of 3fl-acetoxy-l5fi-hydroxy-14u-bromo-l4a-card- 20(22)-enolide confirmed by infrared spectral data.

EXAMPLE 46 3fl-propionyloxy-ISfi-hydroxy-14tx-br0ma-14ot-card- 20(22)-en0lide In the same manner as given in Example 45, 3p-propionyloxy 21 acetoxy 15f hydroxy 14a bromopregnan-ZO-one was reacted in solution with ethyl bromoacetate to give the corresponding 3fi-propionyloxy-15phydroXy-14a-bro1no- 14a-card-20 (22) -enolide.

EXAMPLE 47 313-valeryloxy-1Sfi-hydroxy-I4a-br0ma-14a-card- 20(22)-enolide In the same manner as given in Example 45, 3fl-valeryloxy-21-acetoxy-1Sfi-hydroxy-14a-bromopregnan 20 one was treated with ethyl bromoaceta'te in the presence of zinc to give Sfi-valeryloxy-l5,8-hydroxy 14a-bromo-14w card-20 (22) -enolide.

EXAMPLE 48 In the same manner as given in Example 45, 3,8,21-

treated with'ethylbro-moacetate in the presence of zinc to give 3/3-acetoxy-15fl-hydroxy 14oz chloro-l4a-card- 2 0(22)-enolide.

I In the same manner as shown in Examples 45 through 48, other 3B-acyloxy-15fi-hydroxy 14a halo-l4a-card- '20(22)-'enolides may be prepared by reacting the corresponding 3,8,21-diacyloxy-1Sfi-hydroxy-14ot-halopregnar1- 20-one with ethylbromoacetate in the presence of zinc.

'19 Representative 3,8-acyloxy 155 hydroxy-l la-halo-Macard-20(22)-enolides thus-obtained include: 3/3-formyloxy-, 3fl-cyclopentylpropionyloXy-, 3 -isobutyryloxy 3,3- isovaleryloxy-, 3/3-hexanoyloxy-, 35-heptanoyloxy-, 3,8- octanoyloxy-, 3B-(2-furoyloxy)-15p-hydroxy-14e-bromo- 14u-card-20(22)-enolide, 3 8-formyloxy-, Bfl-propionyloxy-, 3fl-butyryloxy-, 3 8-valeryloxyand 3B-hexanoyloxy- 15 3-hydroxy-l4u-chloro-l4u-card-20(22)-enolide and the like.

EXAMPLE 49 3B-acetoxy-14 (15 -oxid-20(22 -carden0lide To a solution of 0.95 gram of BB-acetoxy-lSB-hydroxy- 14a-bromo-l4a-card-20(22)-enolide, dissolved in fifty milliliters of acetone was added 2.5 grams of potassium acetate. The reaction mixture was stirred at the temperature of reflux in a dry atmosphere for a period of five hours. Thereafter the solution was concentrated at reduced pressure to a volume of ten milliliters and poured into 200 milliliters of ice water with stirring. The thusobtained precipitate was collected on a filter and recrystallized from acetone to give 0.78 gram of BB-acetoxy- 14( 15 -oxido-20(22)-cardenolide.

In the same manner as shown in Example 49, substituting 3 3-acetoxy 15B hydroxy 14a bromo l4a-card- 20(22)-enolide with 3fi-acetoxy-l5,8-hydroxy-l4u-chloro- 14a-card-20(22)-enolide produces 3 8-acetoxy-14(l5)- oxide-20(22)-cardenolide.

EXA PLE 50 V 3B-propi0nyIoxy-14 (15 )-oxid0-20(22) -cardenolide In the same manner as shown in Example 49, 3/8-propionyloxy 15,8-hydroxy 14a bromo-14u-card-20(22)- enolide was treated with soda lime to give Sfi-propionyloxy-14 l -oxido-20 (22) -cardenolide.

ExAMPLE 51 3fl-butyryloxy-I4 -0xid0-20 (22 -cardenolide In the same manner as shown in Example 49, 3,8- butyryloxy-lSfi-hydroxy 14a bromo-l4a-card-20(22)- enolide was treated with sodium acetate to give 3/3-butyryloxy-14( 15) -oxido-(22) -cardenolide.

In the same manner as shown in Examples 49 through 51, by reacting the corresponding 3B-acyloxy-l513-hydroxy-14a-halo-14e-card-20(22)-eno-lide, illustrated by Examples 45-48, with potassium acetate, sodium acetate, soda lime, and the like, the corresponding Bfi-acyloxy- 14(15)-oxido-20(22)-cardenolide is obtained.

EXAMPLE 52 313-hydroxy14(15 -0xid0-20(22 -cara'en0lide A medium was prepared of ten grams of Cerelose dextrose, twenty grams of corn steep liquor and one liter of tap water. Twelve liters of this sterilized medium was inoculated with Rhizopus shanglzaiensis ATCC 10329 and incubated for 24 hours at a temperature of 27 to thirty degrees centigrade, with agitation and aeration at a rate of one liter of air per minute. To this medium containing a twenty-four hour growth of Rhizopus shanglzaiensis, 1.25 grams of 3;3-acetoxy-l4(15)-oxido-20(22)- cardenolide, dissolved in 100 milliliters of acetone, was added. The incubation was continued for a period of four hours with agitation and without aeration. The beer and mycelium were extracted three times with three liters of methylene dichloride. The combined extracts were washed with sodium carbonate solution and water. Upon concentration and trituration of the extractives with ether 1.05 grams of 3;3-hydroxy-14(15)-oxido-20(22)-cardenolide was obtained.

Other fungi of the genus Rhizopus, esterases or lipases may be used to produce a rapid hydrolysis of the acyloxy group to a 3,8-hydroxy group without attacking the 20(22)-cardenolide lactone structure. Hog or beef liver or pancreas are especially useful.

In a manner similar to Example 52, other 3;8acyloxyl4(15)-oxido-20(22)-cardenolides such as those shown and described in Examples 49 through 51 are hydrolyzed to give 3fl-hydroxy-14(15)-oxido-20(22)-cardenolide.

EXAMPLE 53 3B,. 4-dihydroxy-20 (22 -carden0lide (digitoxigenin) A solution of 500 milligrams of 3fl-hydroXy-l4(15)- 0xido-20(22)-cardenolide, dissolved in 20 milliliters of freshly distilled dioxane, was cooled to about ten degrees centigrade. To this solution was added thirty milligrams of potassium borohydride, and one milligram of potassium chloride in five milliliters of fifty percent dioxane. The reaction mixture was then warmed to room temperature (twenty to thirty degrees centigrade) and kept for five hours at this temperature. Thereafter five milliliters of water was added and a pH of 2 obtained by adjustment with dilute hydrochloric acid. After thirty minutes the reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo to one-fifty of the original volume. Dilution with twenty milliliters of water and extraction with chloroform gave a residue of 3;3,l5'dihydroxy-20(22)-cardenolide. Separation was achieved by chromatography over magnesium silicate. The component melting at 243 to 247 degrees centigrade, was separated and identified by infrared spectrum, papergram mobility and melting point in admixture with authentic digitoxigenin as 3B,14 8dihydroxy-20(22)- cardenolide (digitoxigenin).

EXAMPLE 54 Digitoxigenin acetate In the same manner as shown in Example 53, using 3,8-acetoxy-14(15)-oxido-20(22)-cardenolide instead of 3 Bhydroxy-14( 15 -oxido-20(22) -cardenolide is produc- In the same manner as given in Example 53, using 3 8- (fi-cyclopentyl)propionyloxy-14(15)-oxido-20(22) eardenolide instead of 3 3-hydroxy-l4(15)-oxido-20(22)-cardenolide is productive of 35-(ficyclopentyl)propionyloxyl45-hydroxy 20(22) cardenolide (digitoxigenin 3-(3- cyclopentyl propionate).

In a manner similar to Examples 53 through 55, reducing 3B-acyloxy-l4(15)-oxido-20(22)-cardenolide with potassium borohydride or sodium borohydride, and the like, other 3 B-acyloxy-14( 15) -oXido-20(22) -cardenolides are obtainable. Similarly BB-acyloxy 14B hydroxy- 20(22)-cardenolides may be obtained by esterifying 3p,- 14fl-dihydroxy-20(22)-cardenolide according to the methods as herein described in pyridine solution with an acylating agent such as an acid halide, an acid anhydride, and the like, to obtain the corresponding BB-acyloxy-Mflhydroxy-20(22)-cardenolide (digitoxigenin 3-acylate). Representative 3 ,B-acyloxy-14fi-hydroxy-20(22) -cardenolides thus-obtained comprise: formyloxy-, acetoxy-, propionyloXy-, butyryloxy-, isobutyryloxy-, valeryloxy-, isovaleryloxy-, hexanoyloxy-, heptanoyloxy-, octanoyloxy-, benzyloxy-, (,S-cyclopentylpropionyloxy)-, dimethylacet- 0xy-, trimethylacetoxy-, phenylacctoxy-, toluyloxy-, anisoyloxy-, gallyloxy-, salicyloyloxy-, cinnamyloxy-, hemisuccinyloxy-, hemitartaryloxy-, dihydrogencitryloxy-, maleyloXy-, fumaryloxy-, crotonyloxy-, acrylyloxy-, (B- methylcrotonyloxy)-, cyclohexanecarbonyloxy-, chloroacct'oxy-, dichlor'o'acetoxy-, trichloroacetoxy-, bromoacetoxy, hemiquinolinoyloXy-, nicotinyloxy-, piperonyloxy-, (2-furoyloxy)-, thioglycollyloxy-, (para-chlorobenzoyloxy)-, (para-bromobenzoyloxy)-, (metanitrobenzoyloxy)-, and 318-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyloxy)-14;3-hydroxy- 20(22)-cardenolide, and the like.

It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact details or exact compounds shown 21 r and described, as obvious modifications and equivalents will be apparent to one skilled in the art, and the invention is therefore to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A compound selected from the group consisting of 35,15311-trihydroxy-14a-halopregnan-20-one and 3 8,21- diacyloxy-lSfi-hydroxy-14a-halopregnan-20 one wherein the halogen atom has an atomic weight between 34 and 81 and wherein the acyl radical is of a hydrocarbon carboxylic acid containing from one to eight carbon atoms, inclusive.

2. 3B,15,8,21-trihydroxy-14u-bromopregnan-20-one.

3. 35,21-diacetoxy-15B-hydroxy 14a bromopregnan- ZO-one.

4. 3 3 acyloxy 15B hydroxy 14 halo 14cc card- 20(22)-enolide wherein the halogen atom has an atomic weight between 34 and 81 and the acyl radical is of a References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,210,368 Hartmann Aug. 6, 1940 2,656,349 Ruzicka et a1 Oct. 20, 1953 2,670,358 Murray et al Feb. 23, 1954 

4. 3B - ACYLOXY - 15B - HYDROXY - 14A - HALO - 14A - CARD20(22)-ENOLIDE WHEREIN THE HALOGEN ATOM HAS AN ATOMIC WEIGHT BETWEEN 24 AND 81 AND THE ACYL RADICAL IS OF A HYDROCARBON CARBOXYLIC ACID CONTAINING FROM ONE TO EIGHT CARBON ATOMS, INCLUSIVE.
 6. A COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF 3B-HYDROXY-14(15)-OXIDO-20(22)-CARDENOLIDE AND 3BACYLOXY-14(15)-OXIDO-20(22)-CARDENOLIDE WHEREIN THE ACYL RADICAL IS OF HYDROCARBON CARBOXYLIC ACID CONTAINING FROM ONE TO EIGHT CARBON ATOMS, INCLUSIVE. 